woodbuck27
06-09-2006, 11:03 AM
Notes: Defense taking it one day at a time
Unit works on forcing turnovers
By LORI NICKEL
lnickel@journalsentinel.com
Posted: June 8, 2006
Green Bay - Green Bay defensive coordinator Bob Sanders was not doing cartwheels - that really isn't in his personality, anyway - but he admitted that his defense, as a whole, had one of its best practices under his watch Thursday.
The first- and second-team offense, led by quarterbacks Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers, respectively, took over at midfield or in the red zone and attempted to score. On four occasions, the defense caused a turnover, with interceptions by linebacker Nick Barnett, safety Marviel Underwood, tackle Jerome Nichols at the line and end Jason Hunter, who hauled in a pass that was tipped around first.
"That's something we need to improve on from last year, getting turnovers," Sanders said. "It just so happened we got a few today. Those things come in bunches. Our linemen got their hands up and we were positioned and made the plays."
Before Thursday, Sanders said, the defense had no more than two takeaways in any minicamp practice. Coming on the heels of the 2005 season, when the Packers had only 21 takeaways against 45 giveaways, the performance Thursday was at least a temporary sign of encouragement.
"It's an emphasis every single day," Sanders said. "But to get overly excited about one day, I'm not. It's just one day. That's our emphasis and I'm glad we did it. For us, we need to go back and do it again tomorrow."
Young defense: The Packers have five rookie receivers and five rookie linebackers, making those two the youngest positions on the team. But the linebackers are really young, with second-year players Brady Poppinga and Kurt Campbell largely unknown because of injuries suffered last season.
The most experienced returning Packer at the position is Nick Barnett, who is heading into his fourth season, and he has taken rookie Abdul Hodge under his wing. Hodge has been playing middle linebacker behind Barnett.
"Every day helps," Hodge said. "Every day we play, I get more familiar with the guys. We always talk about getting the turnovers. We know that the defense that gets the most turnovers wins the game. We always talk about forcing the offense to turn the ball over."
Hodge has been with the Packers for every minicamp practice. Hodge, who last season averaged 13.2 tackles per game for Iowa to rank third in NCAA Division I, has picked up on the scheme quickly, Sanders said.
"He's a very smart player," Sanders said. "He's been well-coached in college, is an attention-to-detail guy."
Roll call: Defensive tackle Donnell Washington joined the usual no-shows, cornerbacks Al Harris, Charles Woodson and defensive tackle Ryan Pickett, at the voluntary practice Thursday.
Sanders said it was possible that linebacker A.J. Hawk, the first-round draft pick, would travel to Green Bay today. With the weekend off, the Packers would get their first look at him in more than a month on Monday.
"As far as installation and that stuff, he really hasn't missed that much," Sanders said. "Because we have reviewed a lot, he's already had the installation we have done. He's really not that far behind. He'll just have to work himself back in, which he will, because he is another guy that is very intense."
From the June 9, 2006 editions of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Unit works on forcing turnovers
By LORI NICKEL
lnickel@journalsentinel.com
Posted: June 8, 2006
Green Bay - Green Bay defensive coordinator Bob Sanders was not doing cartwheels - that really isn't in his personality, anyway - but he admitted that his defense, as a whole, had one of its best practices under his watch Thursday.
The first- and second-team offense, led by quarterbacks Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers, respectively, took over at midfield or in the red zone and attempted to score. On four occasions, the defense caused a turnover, with interceptions by linebacker Nick Barnett, safety Marviel Underwood, tackle Jerome Nichols at the line and end Jason Hunter, who hauled in a pass that was tipped around first.
"That's something we need to improve on from last year, getting turnovers," Sanders said. "It just so happened we got a few today. Those things come in bunches. Our linemen got their hands up and we were positioned and made the plays."
Before Thursday, Sanders said, the defense had no more than two takeaways in any minicamp practice. Coming on the heels of the 2005 season, when the Packers had only 21 takeaways against 45 giveaways, the performance Thursday was at least a temporary sign of encouragement.
"It's an emphasis every single day," Sanders said. "But to get overly excited about one day, I'm not. It's just one day. That's our emphasis and I'm glad we did it. For us, we need to go back and do it again tomorrow."
Young defense: The Packers have five rookie receivers and five rookie linebackers, making those two the youngest positions on the team. But the linebackers are really young, with second-year players Brady Poppinga and Kurt Campbell largely unknown because of injuries suffered last season.
The most experienced returning Packer at the position is Nick Barnett, who is heading into his fourth season, and he has taken rookie Abdul Hodge under his wing. Hodge has been playing middle linebacker behind Barnett.
"Every day helps," Hodge said. "Every day we play, I get more familiar with the guys. We always talk about getting the turnovers. We know that the defense that gets the most turnovers wins the game. We always talk about forcing the offense to turn the ball over."
Hodge has been with the Packers for every minicamp practice. Hodge, who last season averaged 13.2 tackles per game for Iowa to rank third in NCAA Division I, has picked up on the scheme quickly, Sanders said.
"He's a very smart player," Sanders said. "He's been well-coached in college, is an attention-to-detail guy."
Roll call: Defensive tackle Donnell Washington joined the usual no-shows, cornerbacks Al Harris, Charles Woodson and defensive tackle Ryan Pickett, at the voluntary practice Thursday.
Sanders said it was possible that linebacker A.J. Hawk, the first-round draft pick, would travel to Green Bay today. With the weekend off, the Packers would get their first look at him in more than a month on Monday.
"As far as installation and that stuff, he really hasn't missed that much," Sanders said. "Because we have reviewed a lot, he's already had the installation we have done. He's really not that far behind. He'll just have to work himself back in, which he will, because he is another guy that is very intense."
From the June 9, 2006 editions of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel